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Clothesline Project returns to LBCC to raise awareness and empower survivors of sexual violence

Matthew Walker
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Clothesline Project returns to LBCC to raise awareness and empower survivors of sexual violence

The Clothesline Project was bustling at the Wellness Fest Wednesday at Long Beach City College’s Pacific Coast Campus where students made t-shirts, asked questions and came together to promote awareness for sexual and domestic violence month.

Students were greeted by balloons, colorful t-shirts, blasting music from Power 106 FM, and free breakfast catered from Corner Bakery which ran out almost immediately.

“The Clothesline Project is an interactive workshop and opportunity to help connect our students to the resources they or someone they know may need,” said Sylvia Garcia who works with LBCC’s student life team and was in charge of the project.

A green shirt with the Hulk on it was another symbol on display against sexual violence. (Photo by Craig Roberts)
‘Falling asleep is not consent’ was one message shared by students against sexual violence for the Clothesline Project. (Photo by Craig Roberts)
This yellow shirt was but one symbol against sexual violence. (Photo by Craig Roberts)
Students made their voices against sexual violence. (Photo by Craig Roberts)
One of many t-shirts displayed on the clothesline for the Clothesline Project. (Photo by Craig Roberts)

Different types of student resources were at the event, such as the YWCA, which is one of the largest networks in the U.S. to help with victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse.

An NBC article on the matter from 2020 showed that in the same year there was roughly a 20% increase in domestic violence.

“Crisis intervention is what we will do at these outreach events immediately. We’re there and talking to them, it’s what they need so it’s what we’ll do,” said Yisel Lopez Munoz who works for the YWCA in the L.A area.

“This event is fairly successful because it’s eye-catching, it makes people stop,” she said before continuing to answer questions from curious students.

Several students stopped to make t-shirts throughout the event in support of the cause as well as spin a wheel at the table across from the clothesline for free goodies like a tote bag or water bottle.

Students can find many resources on campus if they deal with any sexual violence during their time at LBCC.

“Direct services offered include the Title IX team and student health team. We want to provide workshops to help address sexual assualt and violence on campus,” said Garcia when asked about what students can expect from the college.

Title IX is an Education Amendment that prohibits sexual harrassment, violence, and sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools.

“If a student were to file a report with Title IX, they would be referred to an advocate. I believe in immediate support and we’ve been highly effective. We try to make it as seamless as possible, she said in conclusion.

The Clothesline Project was just one aspect of the broader Wellness Fest happening which had some other partners present who do offer assistance in these matters but isn’t their only purpose.

The LGBTQ Center Long Beach had a tent across from Power 106 FM where River Edgren shared what The Center is there for.

“Whatever people want to bring in, we give them a safe place to do so and guide them. Whether they want to know if they should come out to their employer or peers, or if they really shouldn’t, we’re here,” said Edgren.

They also explained the many opportunities for students to volunteer and get internships, as they run events around the city almost on a weekly basis.

LBCC will be holding the Clothesline Project and the Wellness Fest again, at the Liberal Arts Campus, A quad Oct 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Genesis Lopez leads LBCC women’s soccer team to their first conference win over ELAC in 7-0 victory

Soderek San
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Genesis Lopez leads LBCC women’s soccer team to their first conference win over ELAC in 7-0 victory

The LBCC Vikings dismantled the East Los Angeles College Huskies in a crushing 7-0 victory.

The Vikings were recently announced as the 12th ranked team in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches poll and proved their ranking with a masterful performance against ELAC to kickoff the conference season. 

Early pressure from the Vikings created multiple chances to score a goal, but there was nothing to show for those chances until the 12 minute when standout freshman forward Genesis Lopez leaned back and finessed a shot from just outside the 18-yard box into the top-left corner to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead. 

After the first goal it was evident that the Vikings were outpacing the Huskies and that the Vikings’ aggressive approach to the game was going to be a major problem for their opponents. 

This proved to be true within the 20 minute when masterful passing from the Vikings and pure speed from freshman forward Diana Leon led to a one-on-one opportunity where she beat the goalie with a tidy finish into the bottom left corner to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead. 

The final goal of the first half came in the 32 minute when freshman midfielder Scarlett Ortiz fearlessly loaded up from over 30 yards out and floated a shot over the outstretched arm of the Huskies keeper into the top-right corner. 

The Vikings came out of the half continuing to impose their will on ELAC with two second chance opportunity goals scored by Leon and Lopez in back-to-back minutes resulting in a 5-0 Vikings lead. 

“It’s a team effort, but it felt really good scoring two goals,” said Lopez when being asked how it felt to get her season off to such a good start statistically. 

The ELAC keeper was injured on the first goal of the second half and had to be carted off, so the Huskies had an outfield player in goal for the rest of the game. True goalie or not, there was no stopping the next Vikings goal from freshman forward Camryn Camacho who struck the ball from just outside the 18-yard box onto the crossbar resulting in it bouncing straight down over the line giving the Vikings a 6-0 lead. 

Freshman forward Cora Craig sealed this outstanding performance from the Vikings with a great run in behind the defense freeing her and creating a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper to comfortably put the ball into the net, making the score 7-0 in favor of the Vikings, which would end up being the final score. 

Vikings midfielder Paige Rodriguez (#18) takes a shot as Huskies defender Aimee Herrera (#19) goes into block it in the first half of the match on Tuesday. (Photo by Marco Haynes)

The Vikings have a tough opponent in Cerritos College on Friday and Head Coach Eduardo Nunes said that ELAC and Cerritos have a “very similar strategy and defense,” so this game against ELAC was a good “tune up” in order to be prepared for Friday. 

This win against ELAC gave the Vikings a 1-0-0 record in the conference season. 

Dé Donde: The play tackling the agonies faced by Latinx Immigrants

Matthew Walker
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Dé Donde: The play tackling the agonies faced by Latinx Immigrants

The LBCC auditorium was filled with bright eyed students rehearsing on Friday for their upcoming debut of De Donde, a play based on the hardships faced by a community of Latinx immigrants coming to the United States.

Cast members and future attendees may deal with uneasiness when it comes to the topic of the treatment of undomumented Latinx immigrants, especially since many LBCC students are of Latinx decent, have family who are undocumented, or are undomunted themselves. 

Within the play are fighting scenes and even slurs that are included in the dialogue to show the treatment and harsh reality faced by undocumented Latinx immigrants.

Stage manager Madilyn Lopez explains the process of getting through specific scenes that may bring difficulty for some audience members to watch or for actors to have to experience. 

“We have an intimacy director because we do have fight scenes, there are scenes where slurs are said and there is mistreatment of Hispanic people so we make sure there is constant communication of what the actors are comfortable with and if there is anything we need to address or if there is anything the actors are not comfortable with,” said Lopez who continued, “The safety and the emotional safety of the actor is first and foremost.”

A behind-the-scenes look at the props used in scenes four and five of the play “De Donde.” (Photo by Jeanette Lem)

After years of trying to get the show back on its feet from being canceled due to COVID-19, the play is set to run from Oct. 6-9, with only one month of rehearsing. 

Students have spent several hours every day running lines, choreography, and taking constant notes and critiques from director Tony Carreiro who is the current Performing Arts department head and had been a part of a different production De Donde in his time as an actor.

“Working with Tony has been amazing, he is so passionate about what he does. You can really see his passion shine through to the play, especially in Act 2, when everything kind of goes haywire,” said actress Tijera Giddens-Byers, who plays Extrana, a refugee who faces mistreatment from the U.S. government. 

While giving notes to the actors, Carreiro emphasized how he wanted the actors to portray their roles. 

“The more intense the character, the more in control the actor,” said Carreiro.

With today’s political climate regarding undomuented immigration into the United States, the cast is aware of how the play may be viewed by people who have different views on the matter. 
“It’s so relevant to our current time period with the issues of immigration laws and the mistreatment we have faced and even more so when Donald Trump became President,” said Byers.

LBCC Bistro: Fine dining on a student budget

Matthew Walker
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Ambient music, waiters dressed in formal attire, and expansive ceilings greeted patrons of The Bistro’s weekly service. At first glance, The Bistro appears just like any other fine dining restaurant, the only difference, it is completely student run by LBCC’s own culinary arts students.

From front to back of the house, students completely run the show. Being open to the public as well, it gives them the opportunity to gain real world experience in the kitchen and service industry, earning college credit right alongside that.

“It’s an eye opener for how a real kitchen will work. Y’know, hit the pedal to the medal,” said Chris Williams who is a second year student and chef at The Bistro.

Every week, The Bistro serves a different cuisine and with options to choose from. At $18 for three courses it offers a great deal for those seeking a different dining experience, especially as LAC continues without an on campus cafeteria.

Christopher Winfield, a chef of The Bistro spoke on his experience working. 

“It’s a great opportunity for students to sharpen their skills and provide services to the school on campus,” said Winfield.

“It’s a really fun new experience. I get to dive more into baking in the culinary industry,” he added.

Shot of expo line with a server walking past as lunch service comes to an end. (Rene Trujillo Jr.)

The weekly menu is a group effort between students and their culinary arts teacher. 

“Head chef Haylee picks the cuisine, we give her suggestions on what she’d like or what we’d like to cook…and what sells,” said Winfield.

This week, the cuisine selected was Latin American inspired, including chicken pozole (a Mexican stew), Brazilian Moqueca (fish stew), and chocoflan as some of their course options. 

The Bistro also offers vegan alternatives to every course, every week, and makes a point to do so. 

As Williams said, “When people ask if we have a vegan or vegetarian option we want to make it a step ahead.” 

The addition of these vegan alternatives makes The Bistro an even more inclusive spot for anyone wanting to experience fine cuisine, regardless of dietary preferences. 

Guests talking while waiting for their plates at the LBCC Bistro. Live footage of the kitchen plays and staff helps guests in the background. (Rene Trujillo Jr.)

“It’s by students and it’ll be for students,” he said.

Service is open to the public every Tuesday and Wednesday, and reservations should be made in advance with an email to bistro@lbcc.edu. Located in building V, it’s a convenient spot for lunch reservations after class.

Two crowned at Homecoming halftime show

Matthew Walker
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Two crowned at Homecoming halftime show

This year’s Homecoming Court winner was finally crowned Saturday at the Homecoming game against Golden West, during the much anticipated halftime show.

The crowd stayed firmly glued to their seats as preparations were underway on the field for the beginning of the show. For the athletes it was a well needed break, but for the audience the fun was only beginning.

The show kicked off with a performance from LBCC’s cheer team, the squad taking over the field and blasting music from a speaker as they tossed, flipped, and tumbled their hearts out for the crowd.

Right after their exit the most anticipated part of the show began; announcing the Homecoming Court.

Quickly and efficiently staff members assembled a stage on the track complete with balloons, a themed backdrop, and a podium set for the upcoming announcement.

Jose Polanco came onstage, recognizing a few members of the Board of Trustees who came out for the game. Then, it was time to move into announcing the nominees.

Each Homecoming Court nominee was announced and escorted down a red carpet up onto the stage where the crowd could get a good look and cheer for each nominee as they appeared.

Once everyone was on stage, none other than Ole the Viking, LBCC’s mascot, handed Polanco a roll of paper.

The Homecoming runner-up was announced first. Maria Ortiz-Lechuga. Shock was clear on her face the moment she heard her name, followed by a large smile. Some of the crowd cheered as Ortiz-Lechuga was awarded her crown, with a small silver tiara placed atop her head.

Afterward, when the rush of being on stage wore off, Maria gave her comment on being Homecoming Court runner-up.

“Really happy. I didn’t expect it,” said Maria.

Ouran Jones (left) accompanied Ina-Marie Timbo onto the Homecoming stage. Ina-Marie went on to be crowned Homecoming queen moments later. (Photo by Paul Jimenez)

Then it was time for the big reveal, the crowning of the Homecoming Queen. With a pause and a flourish, Polanco announced the winner. The crowd held their breath as he read out the name: Ina Marie Timbo.

The stands seemed to explode at the name. And so did the cheer team, still on the track. Their roars of support could be heard even high up in the stands. This was one of their own, and she had won.

Timbo said she felt surprised at the win. “It didn’t feel real. It felt like a dream.”

As the winner, she won not only her crown, but a scholarship. When asked what she would do with the money she said, “I’ll probably save for when I transfer out of here.”

Leo Sanchez scores twice in the 3-0 win against ELAC in the first conference game of season

Emily D'Amico
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Leo Sanchez scores twice in the 3-0 win against ELAC in the first conference game of season

The Long Beach City College Vikings gained their first conference win of the season on Tuesday against the East Los Angeles College Huskies with Viking’s Midfielder Leo Sanchez coming off the bench and scoring two second-half goals to win the game 3-0.

The Vikings were able to control the ball in the early stages of the game but could not break through the Huskies defense. ELAC made sure their defensive presence was known in the first half of the game by withstanding the pressure of LBCC’s offense. 

LBCC forward Jesus Moreno was able to break the deadlock in the 22nd minute after receiving a through ball from LBCC midfielder David Ortiz and finishing his shot into the bottom left corner of the goal.

The Vikings were in charge of the second half as they were able to control the ball, trying to slow down the game and defensively coping with most ELAC attacks. 

The Huskies were able to create a few scares for the Vikings’ defense with their best chance inside the penalty box but the shot went wide of the side netting. 

LBCC’s substitute midfielder Leo Sanchez was able to add to the scoreline in the 78th minute after responding quickly to Vikings’ captain Jonathan Grado’s missed free kick by redirecting the ball back into the net, raising the score to 2-0.

Late into the game Sanchez was able to score another goal, sealing the victory for the Vikings after getting on the end of Viking’s forward Carlos Alves’s cross and scoring a tap-in finalizing the score to 3-0.

The Vikings ended up finishing the game in a comfortable manner with a clean sheet as goalkeeper Ryan Swan made three saves during the game.

Sanchez was the standout player of the game after coming off the bench and scoring two goals in the second half against a very defensive ELAC. 

“Coming into this game we knew they were going to sit off and many teams do when they play against us and it took a while to break them down but it finally happened and we got the result we wanted,” said Sanchez. 

When asked about how important the attackers were in Tuesday’s game, LBCC men’s soccer coach Jorge Reyes said, “We finally had an end product and Leo was in the right place, right time. Sometimes we need a tap-in goal. We need to get players to go into the right space and wanting to go into that space and Leo got in behind a couple of times and scored.”

This season the Vikings have played teams with a similar playstyle and have struggled to get the victory when they score first. According to coach Jorge Reyes, the team puts their foot off of the gas and allows their opponents to get into the game.

“We got on them at halftime to make sure that whatever the score was it didn’t matter, we need to get more goals and more goals because there shouldn’t be any complacency. They stepped up in the second half. It was the same intensity that we started off with and matched it all the way through.” said Coach Reyes on his team’s intensity and performance. 

The 3-0 victory against ELAC, puts the Vikings’ record at 1-0-0 in the conference season.  

The Vikings play again in the conference season on Friday at Cerritos College at 4 p.m.

LBCC women’s volleyball team fell to another defeat in a 3-0 loss to Rio Hondo

Emily D'Amico
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LBCC women’s volleyball team fell to another defeat in a 3-0 loss to Rio Hondo

The LBCC women’s volleyball team fell to another defeat in the conference season after losing 3-0 to Rio Hondo on Friday. 

The Vikings lost the first set 25-17 and the second set 25-19.

The third set saw the Vikings fall short of taking the game to a fourth set by losing 25-20.

This is the third loss in the conference season for LBCC after playing three games.

The Vikings are currently missing key players, with coach Tyler Jackson allowing the newcomers to play and gain experience this season. 

“The team is in a really difficult spot in the season. We have five of our starters out and it’s showing. We have a lot of injuries this year and grades,” said Coach  Jackson.

The Vikings have failed to win any of their sets in the last two conference games against Pasadena and Rio Hondo.

“Moving forward we need to clean it up and pick up our offense. Our defense was there, we just need to put the ball away,” said outside hitter Brandi Ramirez.

With the team’s defensive and offensive capabilities, Jackson hopes her team can start becoming more aggressive offensively and stay relaxed when the ball is returned to their side of the court. 

“Right now we’re so fragile, we’re so scared to make a mistake that we’re not being aggressive,” said Jackson on the team’s defensive and offensive performances.

Currently, the Viking’s conference record stands at 0-3 with the team’s only win this season coming in pre-season. 

The Vikings come back onto the court in the conference season traveling to El Camino on Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. 

Veterans can now find their new path at LBCC

Shelby Tiefenthaler
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Veterans can now find their new path at LBCC

Veterans at LBCC can now find assistance with services and programs inside the new Veteran Service Office, nestled inside the A building’s main office area.

Many military personnel have difficulty transitioning back into civilian life, but this new office provides aids to help smooth the transition.

The Veteran Service Office offers priority registration, expedited paperwork for Admissions and Financial Aid, assistance with GI Benefits, and free tutoring.

The on-campus VetSuccess program has an official employee from the department of Veterans Assistants working in-house to assist with all VA benefits, both academic and non academic. 

Three veteran counselors are also available to help with educational planning, transfer help, or financial counseling. 

This office is manned by a rotating staff of student veterans, so there is always somebody there to give a helping hand. 

Jonathan Lopez, who served in the Marines, said he remembers getting out. Lopez agrees that it’s not always easy transitioning out of the military. He feels that because strong bonds are made with others serving in the same field, that leaving the comfort of what was familiar feels like starting from scratch. 

“That’s what our services are for, helping veterans find their new direction and connections in civilian life,” explained Lopez.

Mental wellness is very important for veterans, so LBCC has partnered with U.S.VETS for personal counseling, on or off campus.

Andrew Abertin, a student veteran said, “I received so much help here, they pointed me in the right direction, and even helped me get some benefits that I didn’t think I would qualify for.”

These services don’t just end with the veterans however, as they are also available for dependents of veterans.

Tim Potter is a veteran student staff member that is available for free tutoring in writing, literature, history, and anthropology.

“I have gotten so much help from this office, that I wanted to give back to my fellow veterans, and I’ve won the Jacaranda award three times,” conveyed Potter.

There are many workshops and presentations throughout the year to external resources in the community.

Visiting the veterans office is a wise idea as there are benefits that many might not know they qualify for.

Viking’s disappoint homecoming crowd in 41-17 loss to Golden West

Emily D'Amico
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Viking’s disappoint homecoming crowd in 41-17 loss to Golden West

In Saturday night’s LBCC Vikings’ Homecoming game, The Vikings aimed to win this special game against the Golden West Rustlers, which ended in disappointment for the Vikings when the final score read 41-17, with The Rustlers taking the victory.

The Vikings elected to receive the kickoff, and on their opening drive they committed two false start penalties along with freshman quarterback Will Madona throwing an interception on the third play of the game, giving the Rustlers great field position at the Vikings’ 37 yard line. 

The Rustlers implemented their option offense from the start of the game running over the Vikings and marching into the redzone. The Rustler’s freshman running back Sam Lybeer punched in a 4-yard run to give the Rustlers an early 7-0 lead. 

The Vikings seemed to get themselves going with a few comeback routes that were successful, but they could not keep this going as a sack from the Rustler’s freshman linebacker Jordan Palomino stifled their momentum. 

With the option proving to be effective for the Rustlers, they drove down the field again and freshman quarterback Ui Ale capped off the drive with a 1-yard run on a read-option keeper. 

The Vikings got the ball back and were advancing down the field until Madona threw his second interception of the day, this time to  the Rustler’s sophomore defensive back Justin Hintze, who returned it 31 yards for a touchdown, putting the Vikings down 21-0 after just 9 minutes. 

With Madona struggling, he was replaced by fellow freshman quarterback Qeanu Campbell-Caldwell in hopes of sparking the Viking offense.

LBCC would end up punting on Campbell-Caldwell’s first drive, but the defense finally showed up. 

On third down, freshman defensive lineman Luke Toomalatai found his way through the Rustler’s offensive line and sacked Ale, forcing a punt. 

Toomalatai, who was also on the punt team, bulldozed a Rustler lineman on his way to the punter, stuck both hands out and blocked the punt with the ball being scooped up by freshman linebacker Alonso Person and taken 20 yards into the endzone for the first Viking touchdown.

When asked how it felt to have his block returned for a touchdown Toomalatai said, “Beautiful, I looked up and saw my teammate pick up the ball and go score, we needed those points.”

As things were starting to go well for the Vikings, freshman defensive back Jalen Duncan forced a fumble and recovered it, pushing the Vikings’ momentum and returning the ball to them once again.

LBCC’s Kyle Miller getting brought down by Golden West’ Wyatt Potter after a short gain. The Vikings went on to lose against the Rustlers 41-17 on Oct. 1, 2022. (Paul Jimenez)

The momentum would not carry forward as The Vikings failed to convert on a fourth down, giving Golden West possession of the ball once again. The Rustlers took this opportunity to drive down to a goal-to-go situation, but a drop in the red zone would force them to settle for a field goal from sophomore Jake Cipres, extending their lead to 24-7. 

The Vikings struggled on offense all night only gaining 242 yards, and being held to 69 yards on the ground by the stout run defense of the Rustlers. 

“The defense wasn’t the problem, it was the offense,” said head coach Brett Peabody.

After another empty Viking possession, the defense would come up big again with three straight sacks. 

The Vikings quickly found themselves back on defense with the clock running down in the first half after a 60 yard run from Lybeer. 

This pressured the Vikings to look for a goal line stop, which they would get, forcing a field goal that would be blocked by freshman defensive lineman Elijah Bradley, keeping the score 24-7 at half. 

The second half was not nearly as eventful as the first half, but the Vikings did put together a 10 play drive for 65 total yards that resulted in a 28 yard field goal from sophomore Mario De la Torre. 

After two more touchdowns from Golden West, the Vikings finally scored a touchdown as Will Madona came back into the game and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Trennel Ridgely. 

The final score was 41-17 in favor of the Rustlers. 

The LBCC Vikings look to use next week’s bye week to regroup and prepare for their next game which is at home against Ventura on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m.

Hall of Fame alumni attribute success to college resources and professors

Shelby Tiefenthaler
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Hall of Fame alumni attribute success to college resources and professors

The 50th annual LBCC Hall of Fame award ceremony on Sept. 22 honored the accomplishments of the school’s alumni. 

The ceremony acknowledged three alumni with awards who went on to pursue careers in military, medicine, and communal advocacy following their time spent at the college.

During their acceptance speeches, each alumni emphasized that the support they had from the school’s faculty and resources was essential to their success.  

There is no doubt that these recipients have made great achievements in their fields, but the path to success has not always been so straightforward. 

Blas Villalobos, a chief executive officer for veteran affairs, revealed that he considered dropping out of college after his history professor assigned a complicated homework assignment. 

Villalobos served in the military before becoming a student at LBCC, so transitioning to college life had not been effortless for him. Fortunately he was connected with the veteran program on campus, and a counselor convinced him to stay in school. 

“I felt that every time I asked for help there was somebody to point me in the right direction,” Villalobos said.  “They helped me get to the resources I needed, from financial aid to helping me translate my military skills to credits. Every step of the way I felt that there was someone that could help me in some way.” 

Villalobos was aware of his passion for veteran services from the start, but not all college students know what their path is right away.

Amy Valenzuela-Mier, another award recipient who now focuses on public health, touched on this matter when she took the stage for her speech.

Valenzuela-Mier expressed that the school had the power to steer students in the right direction and help them find their passions. 

She stated professors helped set students on the right path by, “being available, keeping office hours, and being willing to have those one-on-one conversations, even if the student really doesn’t have an idea as to what their ultimate thing is.”

Professors and faculty at the school continue to prove to do more for students than just offer academic help.

Attendees of the LBCC Hall of Fame ceremony gathered in the courtyard before the start of the ceremony at The Grand in Long Beach, CA, on Sept. 22. The ceremony instated three alumni and gave out three distinguished service awards. (Maisie Vilchis)

Making connections with the college’s staff had also helped the alumni in the personal aspects of their lives to ensure their overall success. 

“One of the most rewarding things is having those one-on-one conversations and really getting to know what students are dealing with because it just makes the classroom teaching all the more relevant.” Valenzuela-Mier said. 

With the help of the resources offered by LBCC, the alumni were able to take the set of skills they learned in school and convert them into tools to make valuable contributions to their communities. 

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